"Command is the history of our time, told through war. It's a wonderful, idiosyncratic feat of storytelling as well as an essential account of how the modern world's wars have been fought, written by someone whose grasp of complex detail is as strong and effective as the clarity of his style. I shall read it again and again." -- John Simpson, The Guardian"In this historical and geographical tour de force, Freedman cogently examines the interplay of politics and command-the balance of decision-making by civilian leaders and their military counterparts. Freedman's book is a must-read, and even more so today, as it sheds light on the dynamics of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which challenges the very core of the postwar international order." -- Monica Duffy Toft, Foreign Affairs"Freedman offers excellent concise summaries of some of the world's main clashes since 1950." -- Max Hastings, Sunday Times"Sir Lawrence Freedman, Britain's most distinguished scholar of war, surveys 15 different battles and campaigns . The lesson is that good command looks both ways, sensitive to the politics raging above while remaining in touch with the war being fought below.

-- Economist"Lawrence Freedman is one of our most distinguished military historians . this should be the standard text in staff colleges around the world, and for military-history studies." -- Daily Telegraph"It is incredibly insightful, occasionally moving and profoundly wise." -- Andrew Roberts, Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year"One of the revelations of Freedman's detailed and well-informed book is how difficult the management of conflict has become . [an] invaluable panorama of the challenges of modern command." -- Richard Overy, Literary Review"Command is arguably his finest book'e"fluently written and convincingly argued'e"into which he distils a lifetime of study into the nature and practice of war." -- The Times"Comfortably the book of the year. It is a reminder of the human factor as a central component of the so-called correlations of forces in war.

" -- John Bew, New Statesman Books of the Year"Freedman's mastery of the subject of civil and military leadership in time of war is peerless . a fascinating study of the psychological and political characteristics that determine success or failure in leadership in war." -- The Irish Times"Any student of military history will find this an invaluable book on the challenges of higher command and grand strategy. It is another masterful work by one of the best practitioners of strategic thought today." -- Jerry Lenaburg, Project Manager and Senior Military Analyst, New York Journal of Books"I recommend Freedman's Command because of its valuable exploration of the influence of politics and personality. All higher command courses should embrace this book for its central theme on the confluence of politics and personal character and their impact on operational decisions. The book is also invaluable for recognizing that command evolves with the changing character of war." -- Dr.

Frank G. Hoffman, Parameters.